Arizona Dreaming

Picture Imperfect

                 

"Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."-Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger In A Strange Land

***

"You look very happy," Lola was looking at the St. Michael's Gazette over dinner.

It was just the two of us since Lolo had to work late again.

I'm used to his absence.

What's more surprising to me is when he's home early.

"I am," I answered.

At the front page was a picture Julia and I hugging.

You can only see the back of her jersey, with the number seven in blue, but my face was plastered in front of the page.

The headline was this: Blondie's Redemption.

Pretty dramatic I must say.

I think the writer was alluding to the nose-punching incident.

It was mentioned in a one-line sentence so as not to take away the glory of our win.

When we came to school on Monday, the paper was placed at the entrance of our building.

Students stopped reading it when I came in the door.

They congratulated me for the win.

I thanked them.

It was a weird feeling.

Like being visible all of a sudden.

Not that I was ever invisible.

I was the only foreign student at St. Michael's.

Much as I want to be unnoticed, they still see me not just for my appearance but also with whom I chose to keep as company.

The Warriors are royalty at St. Michael's.

If the students could bow when we pass the hallways, they would.

***

"You're very close to Julia," Lola placed the paper on the table.

I stopped scooping the mushroom soup to look at her.

"Yes, I am."

She was studying me and I squirmed in my seat.

"What happens when you leave?"

I grabbed the napkin but instead of using it to wipe my lips, I clutched at the edges.

"Then I guess we'll have a long-distance relationship." I answered.

Lola eyed me for a long time.

I took a deep breath and braced myself for what's going to happen next.

"Does your father know?"

I nodded.

"Does her family know?"

I shook my head.

She sank back on her chair.

The tension was thick, making me uneasy the longer she remained silent.

"Have you known a long time?"  I blurted.

A smile formed at the corner of her mouth and I took a deep breath.

I thought she was going to be mad but her kind eyes assured me that she's okay.

"Since she came over that weekend."